RSAF F-16s outgunned by Indian Sukhois

Six F-16C/D Fighting Falcon jets from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) have been engaging in dogfights with their Indian counterparts in the open skies over Gwalior in Western India during the past two weeks. To be precise, they are participating in the first bilateral air exercise, codenamed SINDEX-04, which will end tomorrow 27 Oct 04. Curious to know the outcome ? Read on .... which is a Times of India news report, quoting IAF sources, said the Indian pilots proved more than a match for their visitors.

Don't fret if Pak gets F-16s
RAJAT PANDIT
TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2004 11:24:29 PM ]

NEW DELHI: India need not lose sleep even if Pakistan manages to acquire more F-16 fighters from the US. After plastering American combat pilots in an exercise earlier this year, IAF top guns now have another reason to be gung ho: their top-notch mean machines have proved more than a match for F-16s, the much-vaunted 'fighting falcons'.
Russian-origin Sukhoi-30MKI jets are apparently outgunning American F-16s on "several aspects" at the ongoing Indo-Singapore air combat exercise in Gwalior.
This is the first-ever face-off between these two sophisticated war machines originating from the two former Cold War adversaries.
"Our Sukhois are doing very well against the F-16Cs (of Singapore Air Force) in terms of manoeuvrability, sophistication of avionics and weapon systems. Similarly, our MiG-29s and Mirage-2000s are also matching up to the F-16s," say IAF sources.
IAF is pitting even its MiG-21s, which constitute over 45% of India's combat fleet, against F-16s during the 'Sindex-Ankush' exercise in Gwalior.
"Ever since the Pakistanis acquired F-16s from the US in the mid-1980s, we wanted to size them up. So, we are matching almost all our planes with F-16s of the Singapore Air Force, which are more advanced than the F-16s of Pakistan," said sources.
The IAF has also tasked its elite combat school to develop manoeuvres for MiG-21s to elude the radar cones of F-16s.
IAF spokesperson Squadron Leader Mahesh Upasani only said, "Results of the exercise will be assessed only after the debrief. It's premature to comment at this stage."
Instead of F-16s, the US had fielded the F-15C Eagles during the Cope India-04 exercise in February. So, the decks were promptly cleared when Singapore came knocking for training facilities with its F-16s.